Greenville Equine Veterinary Services

11/17/2025

What is Equine Herpesvirus (EHV)?

You've probably heard it called Rhinopneumonitis, a respiratory tract disease that results in "snotty noses," but EHV is more than that. Depending on the strain, this virus can also cause abortion in broodmares, and equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) — the often-deadly neurologic form of the disease.

Because EHV is endemic in many equine populations, most mature horses have developed some immunity through repeated natural infection. However, they remain a source of infection for other susceptible horses, like weaned foals and yearlings, who usually display symptoms of the respiratory form of the disease in autumn and winter. Performance and show horses are also more vulnerable to the disease, as they commingle with unfamiliar equines in close quarters while under stress from travel and competition.

Proper biosecurity protocols can help reduce EHV outbreaks and other disease transmission. A variety of vaccines are also available for protection against both the respiratory and abortive form of the disease, but there is no equine licensed vaccine at this time that has a label claim for protection against the neurologic form (EHM).

Consult your primary equine veterinarian to learn more about this disease and work with them to determine the optimal vaccine protocol for your horses.

You can learn more about all three forms on the Equine Disease Communication Center's website here: https://equinediseasecc.org/infectious-diseases

11/13/2025

Scratches, also known as pastern dermatitis, is a common skin condition that affects the lower legs of horses, especially around the back of the pastern and fetlock. It often looks like scabby, crusty, or raw patches and can make the area sore or swollen.

What Causes Scratches?
• Wet, muddy, or dirty conditions
• Irritation from sand, bedding, or rough surfaces
• Bacterial or fungal infections
• Sometimes, tiny mites or allergies

What to Look For:
• Redness, swelling, or heat in the lower leg
• Scabs, crusts, or hair loss
• Horse may be sensitive or sore in the area

How to Help Prevent Scratches:
• Keep your horse’s legs clean and dry
• Avoid letting your horse stand in wet or muddy areas for long periods
• Avoid sharing wraps or boots between horses, especially without cleaning/disinfecting between uses
• Check legs regularly for early signs

How to Treat Scratches:
• Clean the Area: Gently wash the affected area with a mild antiseptic shampoo or solution to remove dirt and scabs. Be gentle—don’t scrub hard or pick at scabs.

• Dry Thoroughly: After cleaning, make sure the area is completely dry. Moisture can make the problem worse.

• Apply Topical Creams: You can use creams or ointments recommended by your veterinarian, such as those containing silver sulfadiazine or other antibacterial/antifungal agents.

• Keep the Area Protected: If possible, keep your horse out of wet or muddy conditions while healing.

• Monitor for Infection: If you notice increased swelling, pain, or pus, or if the condition doesn’t improve, contact your veterinarian.

Remember, severe or persistent cases should always be checked by your veterinarian to make sure your horse gets the right treatment. If you have questions or concerns about your own equine, contact your veterinarian.

11/07/2025

🩸 Recently, a 17 year old draft gelding in Virginia tested positive for Equine Parvovirus. And we thought that we would break this disease down for horse owners with Dr. Lauren Holley, ACVIM.

🩸 Did you know horses can get Parvovirus too?
Unlike dogs (who get GI signs), Equine Parvovirus causes liver disease (hepatitis).

💡 EqPV-H has been linked to Theiler’s Disease (Serum Hepatitis) — once thought to occur only after blood transfusions, but we now know horses can get it without any blood product exposure.

👉 We test all of our blood donors for Equine Parvovirus, and our plasma comes from rigorously screened, verified sources.

🩸 Most horses with EqPV-H don’t get sick — only 1–2% show signs of hepatitis. Mild cases often resolve on their own in a few weeks (1-12 weeks), with the only indication being elevated liver enzymes on blood work.

🪧 Typical signs of liver disease or hepatitis include:
💤 Lethargy
❌ Inappetence
💛 Yellow discoloration of the mucous
membranes (eyes, gums, v***a)
🌞 Photosensitization - abnormal
sunlight sensitivity causing blistering
and sunburn on the ‘non-pigmented’
or ‘white’ areas of the coat.
🤢 Colic
🛏️ Recumbency

🧠 In severe disease - Neurologic signs (hepatic encephalopathy) including altered behavior, head pressing, staggering and blindness.

🩺 Diagnosis
Clinical signs, elevated liver enzymes on blood work (AST, SDH, GLDH and GGT) and changes in markers of liver function (ammonia and bile acid concentrations).
PCR testing for the virus (in both blood and liver samples). A positive blood test doesn’t always mean active disease — horses can test positive up to a year after infection.

💊 Treatment and Prognosis
Only symptomatic horses require treatment → aggressive supportive care and secondary treatment of liver dysfunction - especially in the case of neurologic signs.
The prognosis with mild to moderate clinical signs is excellent. Severe disease, fulminant liver failure and neurologic signs, the mortality rate can be high.

💉 Prevention
No vaccine available
When administering biologic products (stem cells, plasma, etc), it is best to use autogenous biologics (from the patient's OWN blood) or commercial products that are known to be negative.

☣️Biosecurity
Not enough is known about EqPV-H. Traditional approaches to limiting the spread of diseases in outbreaks and good quarantine practices when introducing horses to barns are recommended.

📸: A foal receiving a blood transfusion.

11/07/2025

10/30/2025

Most people know that a long, curly haircoat that doesn’t shed properly is a classic sign of Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID; equine Cushing's disease) in horses. But did you know there are other, less obvious symptoms to watch for?

Other signs to watch for (note this is not an exhaustive list):

• Muscle Loss: Horses may lose muscle, especially along their topline (the back and rump), even if they seem to be eating well.

• Fat Pockets: You might notice unusual fat deposits, like above the eyes or along the crest of the neck.

• Frequent Infections: Horses with Cushing’s can get skin infections, hoof abscesses, or other illnesses more often than healthy horses.

• Slow Healing: Wounds or sores may take longer to heal.

• Lethargy: Your horse might seem more tired, less energetic, or just “not themselves.”

• Drinking and Urinating More: Increased thirst and urination can be a subtle sign.

• Abnormal Sweating: Some horses sweat more than usual, even when it’s not hot or they haven’t exercised.

If you notice any of these changes, especially in an older horse, it’s a good idea to talk to your veterinarian. Early detection and management can help your horse stay healthy and comfortable!

In addition, it's important to note that all horses are different, if you have questions specific to your animal, please contact your vet.

10/23/2025

Potomac Horse Fever (PHF) is a disease that affects horses, usually during the summer and fall months. It is caused by a bacteria called Neorickettsia risticii, which horses can get by accidentally ingesting aquatic insects (like mayflies or caddisflies) that carry the bacteria. Horses living near rivers, streams, or irrigated pastures are at higher risk, especially if barn lights are left on at night which can attract these insects.

Signs of PHF can include high fever, diarrhea, loss of appetite, depression, colic, swelling of the legs or belly, and laminitis. PHF is not contagious between horses, but it can be very serious and require hospitalization in some cases. If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian right away. You can also discuss vaccination protocols with your veterinarian if you live in a high-risk area.

More information on PHF can be found on the EDCC's website:
https://www.equinediseasecc.org/potomac-horse-fever

10/15/2025

Happy National Veterinary Technician Week! ✨

Shout out to my absolute rockstar of a tech, Sydney! Thank you - not only today, but EVERY single day - for your hard work, dedication, and exceptional care of our equine patients. You definitely set the standard!

08/28/2025

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF PROUD FLESH? 🔎

Wounds on the bodies and limbs of our equine companions are exceptionally common. In particular, wounds on lower limbs can be especially difficult to manage. There is little extra skin in these areas, making large wounds difficult to close via suturing.

In addition, wounds on the lower legs are contaminated easily with bacteria since they are closer to the ground, bedding, and manure. The constant movement of an animal's legs as it walks, turns, and bears weight can also greatly impair healing, especially if the wound occurs over a joint. All of these factors can often halt the normal progression of the healing process and result in a chronic wound.

Persistent inflammation, along with infection, is a major contributor to exuberant granulation tissue (or proud flesh) formation in a wound. Proud flesh is not conducive to wound healing as it prevents the wound from epithelializing (the process of the skin cells covering the wound), and sometimes it can become so large that it appears to be a tumor, usually obliterating the original wound.

Prevention of proud flesh involves good wound management. For the best healing, wounds should be identified and treated quickly and properly — especially on the lower limbs. Consult your veterinarian about any wounds that appear deep or extensive, that lie over important structures (like joints and tendons), or that already show signs of proud flesh development. Rather than waste time and money in trials and errors that could delay your equid's healing, ask your veterinarian what products are best for your situation.

08/19/2025

Here's some interesting information about Polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) from our friends at Rhinebeck Equine. Have you heard about this condition before? Let us know in the comments below!

"💪🏼 Last week, we discussed Exertional Rhabdomyolysis (ER) aka tying-up. We mentioned that PSSM (Polysaccharide storage myopathy) is associated with genetic susceptibility of ER.

💪🏼 What is PSSM?
PSSM is a disorder that causes muscle soreness and tying up in horses from abnormal glycogen storage in the muscles. The two types of PSSM are Type 1 and Type 2.

♦️ PSSM Type 1 is caused by a mutation in the GYS1 gene (glycogen synthase 1). The mutation causes muscle cells to produce glycogen continually. PSSM Type 1 is more commonly observed in Quarter Horses, Paints, Appaloosas and draft breeds; however, it has been documented in 20 breeds.

♦️ PSSM Type 2 occurs without genetic mutation yet results in abnormal glycogen storage in the muscles. It is still unknown the exact cause of PSSM Type 2. PSSM Type 2 is more common in warmbloods, but it has been linked to other breeds.

🩺 What are the clinical signs?
Sweating, lameness, sore muscles, weakness, undiagnosed lameness, poor performance, and muscle tremors that may occur with or without exercise. Not all horses will exhibit severe clinical signs.

🥼 How do we test for PSSM Type 1 and 2?
Testing for PSSM Type 1 requires hair samples with the roots attached to test for the GYS1 variant. Testing for PSSM Type 2 requires a muscle biopsy.

🩸 Additional testing of insulin may be warranted due to PSSM Type 1 horses are commonly more sensitive to it. Insulin causes the GYS1 gene to produce more glycogen.

💪🏼 How do we treat PSSM once diagnosis is made?
Diet and regular exercise are crucial to managing these horses. Often these horses are on a low non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) grass hay and a ration balancer. However, each horse is an individual and may need more calories which can be achieved by adding a low-NSC or high fat feed. Additional supportive care may be necessary during an active episode of tying up.

🤔 What is the prognosis?
Sadly, there’s no cure, but with dietary and exercise management horses can do well and reduce the frequency of active tying-up episodes."

If you have any concerns about your horse exhibiting signs of PSSM Type 1 or 2, talk to your veterinarian.

📸: Dr. Laura Javsicas, ACVIM, performing a muscle biopsy.

08/08/2025

Welcome to our new veterinary technician, Sydney! 🐴

Hi, I’m Sydney Billings! I was born and raised in the Upstate of South Carolina, where I spent much of my time outdoors—especially in the saddle. My passion for horses led me to pursue over two years of hands-on experience in equine veterinary medicine, and I’m deeply committed to providing compassionate, high-quality care to both horses and their people.
When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me with my thoroughbred mare, spending time with my husband and our dogs & cat, or on the hunt for my next favorite coffee spot. I’m incredibly excited to be part of the team at Greenville Equine and to serve the equine community that means so much to me.

08/07/2025

As temperatures and bug populations remain high, it is critically important that horse owners take steps to protect their equine friends (and their families) from mosquito bites. If you live in a region where mosquito populations persist well into the fall months, your veterinarian may recommend additional fall booster vaccinations against EEE/WEE and WNV (West Nile Virus).

If you don't know your horse's vaccination history or you are unsure whether they have received a certain vaccine, it's not too late to start from scratch with an initial series of inoculations followed by the appropriate boosters, as recommended by your horse doctor.

So, what is Eastern Equine Encephalitis?

EEE is a severe, viral disease affecting the central nervous system, and is transmitted to equids (and humans) by infected mosquitoes. There is no cure for EEE, and the mortality rate is 75-95% (in horses). Prevention through vaccination is key.

Contact your veterinarian for more information and learn more about EEE with the following resources:

USDA Equine Arbovirus Dashboard: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/equine/arbovirus-dashboard?fbclid=IwY2xjawL93phleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFoZWhDbm9DQXJkUDJ2UXQ4AR4LQFqAZgJ-l6okRNSB5gb3W22O2wch3hTNfUrdWkYu5vr4vsPs5dO8_fchtg_aem_AJ5BEuDhbfiGxQTJgInt4A

Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC): https://www.equinediseasecc.org/eastern-equine-encephalitis

AAEP EEE Guidelines: https://aaep.org/resource/eastern-equine-encephalitis-eee/?fbclid=IwY2xjawL93rRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFoZWhDbm9DQXJkUDJ2UXQ4AR53Fr5KFEMaKqGIwpZV4z428WzO0A1N4K8_PoKQ6D4QKlzJqNkHJ6YDd6qnqg_aem_fitQxeORLIU_v3AW-kzK1Q

07/26/2025

Thank you Steele Horsemanship and Farriery for collaborating with me on this case! 🐴